RECORDING A CONVERSATION OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE USSR F.T. GUSEVA WITH EGYPT'S AMBASSADOR IN THE USSR BINDARI-PASHA

Stalin, Soviets and Israeli Question

RECORDING A CONVERSATION OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE USSR F.T. GUSEVA WITH EGYPT'S AMBASSADOR IN THE USSR BINDARI-PASHA

December 13, 1947

Secret

Today, December 13, the envoy of Egypt, Bindari Pasha, came to me on a protocol visit.

[...] 1 Bindari then turned to the question of Egypt's response to the United Nations decision on Palestine. He pointed out that. I would like to state my point of view not in an official manner and not as a representative of my country, but simply as a friend of the Soviet Union. Bindari said he did not understand why the Soviet Union voted to partition Palestine. In his opinion, one should vote only for the withdrawal of British troops from Palestine and the abolition of the mandate. The question of the future structure of Palestine should be left to the population itself. Bindari noted that, from his point of view, the position of the Soviet Union on the Palestinian issue contributed, on the one hand, to the growth of anti-Soviet sentiments in Egypt and, on the other hand, was a pretext for putting pressure on progressive forces in Arab countries. Bindari stressed that it would be better if the Soviet Union remained neutral on this issue and did not support the United States.

In response to these considerations, I said that the position of the Soviet Union in relation to Egypt and other countries was always clear and precise, namely, that we adhere to the principle of equality and respect for the sovereignty of all states, both small and large.

I further pointed out that the position of the Soviet Union on Palestine is also clear and definite. The Soviet Union has no vested interests in Palestine.

In conclusion, Bindari again began to say that the position of the Soviet Union on the Palestinian issue caused an unfriendly reaction in the Arab countries and disrupted the evolution that had taken place in the Arab countries in their relations with the Soviet Union in recent years.

At the end of the conversation, Bindari handed me a memo regarding the shipment of the remaining amount of cholera vaccine to Egypt.

I was present at the conversation with Comrade S. Kudryavtsev.

F. Gusev

WUA RF. F. 087. Op. 10.P.13.D. 2.L. 21-23.